In Bogota this past weekend

[Bob B]

Just thought I'd mention I was in Bogota this past weekend and arrived at El Dorado a few hours after the bomb exploded on Friday.  It turns out my fiancée’s best friend had a close friend who was one of the 4 that was killed.  It was not a happy weekend.
I was not particularly afraid but we stayed away from the popular areas (Parque 93, Andino Mall, Downtown) we usually go to.  By the way, she is from Bogota and I met her in the states one year ago just about when I decided to finally try one of the agencies.  What timing!  It's been a little longer than that now that I have been reading this forum and really appreciate the info and views of everyone.  The info has been especially useful, from I think Georgina and others, on how to bring a fiancée to this country.  The regulars will note that this is my first post.  
By coincidence, we stayed at the Hotel Andes Plaza where there were many Americans.  They turned out to be meeting women from Bogota via an agency.  I believe the owner of the agency was 'Jim'.  Anyway, the women were good looking as a whole.  Over the course of the weekend, we had breakfast there everyday and were able to observe some of the girls and guys.  

Here are tips from our short observation: If you don't like the food, do not be belligerent if the waiter does not understand or if it is not cooked EXACTLY how you want it.  This is a real turn-off.  I saw the girl roll her eyes when the American turned away and she shrugged at the waiter very embarrassed.  Apparently she did not know enough English to help so we helped a bit.  

Do not be belligerent to the front desk clerk, especially in front of the ladies waiting in the lobby!  More looks from the ladies and my fiancée translated some of their remarks (I don't think that guy got dates.)  We stepped in again to smooth that one out.  

I'm sure everyone is frustrated when they can not be understood or can not understand what is going on, I know I am, but I wouldn't show that in front of the ladies, at least not at first.  I'm only telling you what we saw and the reaction of the women.  

So good luck with your search or congratulations if you've found your special lady.  
Bob

[Wasp]

... in response to In Bogota this past weekend, posted by Bob B on May 29, 2001

n/t

[Edge]

... in response to In Bogota this past weekend, posted by Bob B on May 29, 2001

Bienvenido Bob B. and congradulations on being engaged.  Those Colombian women can be something special and the good ones will make it easy to fall in love with them.  This can also be said of latinas in general.

I also stayed at Hotel Andes Plaza around a year and half ago for a TLC tour.  I know many of the guys were complaining about this or that.  It was the first trip for many of them to So. America.  I had no problem with the staff there at the hotel but I remember some of the guys complaining that ate there beside the breakfast.  Mainly that they were slow.  Some guys are going to complain no matter what and some guys realize they are in another country and this can be a unique experience if they will allow themselves to leave the USA behind for a little while.  
Awhile back there was a thread here about having to be "very patient" while down there or with this process in general.  I do not think a person even has to be very patient.  Just be prepared that you are not going to another spot in the USA.  Just be a little more patient in general, people take things a little slower there. This is something I also had to learn.  After all, we are guests in their country and a person will experience very few problems if he is willing to remain calm and be patient.

It is also another reason to learn some español before going
to visit there.

So I hope things continue to go well for you and your fiancée Bob and thank you for the post.

[Bueller]

... in response to In Bogota this past weekend, posted by Bob B on May 29, 2001

Good grief. The guy goes south because the women are, shall we say, ten times better than what he can find at home, and he wants to complain about the food. You go there because it´s Candyland, not because it´s Club Med! But apparently he´s part of the Clueless Contingent.

  BTW, something to remember when you run into language difficulties down south: if they can´t understand your English, talking louder won´t help.

[cedro]

... in response to In Bogota this past weekend, posted by Bob B on May 29, 2001

Hey thanks for the report and observations.  I hope that american men going down to latin america are not being 'ugly americans'.  I really think that is a turn off for the ladies.  I feel that when american men are in forein countries, especially in latin america looking for a wife, they are representing the rest of us american men.